England declares on massive 629-6 in 2nd test vs. SA

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Ben Stokes unleashed one of the most destructive test innings ever for his 258 and Jonny Bairstow wasn't far behind as a rampant England declared on a huge 629-6 in the second test against South Africa on Sunday.

Stokes made the highest score by a No. 6 in the history of test cricket, and shared a 399-run partnership with Bairstow for the highest stand for the sixth wicket in tests. Bairstow was unbeaten on 150 when England finally put the top-ranked South Africans out of their misery and declared before tea on the second day at Newlands.

From 317-5 overnight, England added 312 runs in just over a session to take complete command in this match after taking a 1-0 series lead in the opening test in Durban. The partnership between Stokes and Bairstow racked up 399 at a staggering run rate of 6.91 runs an over. It was England's second-best partnership in tests.

Stokes bludgeoned 30 fours and 11 sixes. Bairstow hit 18 fours and two sixes.

Stokes' double hundred - which came off 163 balls - was the second quickest ever in tests. It was only his third test century. Stokes passed 250 off 196 balls - the fastest to that score in test history. Bairstow's unbeaten 150 was his maiden century.

South Africa, with its reputation as the top-ranked team in the world slipping dramatically, lost its first wicket in the third over of its first-innings reply when Stiaan van Zyl was run out for 4. South Africa was 24-1 in reply at tea on the second day and already staring at a huge defeat and a 2-0 deficit in the four-match series.

To put England's batting dominance in context, it was the second highest total it had ever made in a test innings in South Africa, behind only its 654-5 in the timeless test of 1939.

Stokes, on 74 overnight, needed just 12 balls on Sunday morning to get to his century, and continued to flay the South Africa bowling attack all over Newlands, with a large contingent of traveling English fans cheering every thump to the boundary.

One of those many boundaries was a powerful pull off the back foot to the mid-wicket boundary to go past 200. Stokes leaped and punched his fist in the air to celebrate his first career double hundred. His previous test best was 120.

Among a series of significant statistics, Stokes' brilliant double hundred was the second fastest behind Nathan Astle's 153-ball double ton against England in 2001-02. Also, Stokes battered 130 runs off just 74 balls in the morning session for a new test record for the most runs by a batsman in a session before lunch.

That put England, already 1-0 ahead in the series, in complete command at one of South Africa's favorite grounds, and where England hasn't won since 1957. South Africa has lost just four times in 28 matches at Newlands since being readmitted to test cricket, all against Australia.

But Newlands' reputation as a bastion for South Africa came crumbling down with Stokes' assault. The left-handed allrounder finally fell to a bizarre dismissal when AB de Villiers dropped a regulation catch off him, but then managed to run out Stokes at the non-striker's end with a direct hit.

Although Sunday was all about Stokes, Bairstow continued his impressive series with a century, playing the perfect foil to Stokes. He was just as dominant at the end, cracking boundaries at will, including a huge six over square leg just before Alastair Cook declared.

For South Africa, it was one of the team's lowest points in a test match at home.

Without injured fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott, South Africa's patched up bowling attack was completely subdued: Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris and spinner Dane Piedt all conceded more than 100 runs. Rabada had 3-175 for the best figures.

England is searching for its first series win over South Africa in 11 years. It has dominated from the start of the four-match series and won the first test by 241 runs. A series defeat will knock South Africa off the top of the test rankings.